Part I. Theoretical Frameworks: 1. Legal standards and ethical norms: defining the limits of conflicts regulations Giovanni Guzzetta; 2. The Watergate effect: or why is the ethics bar constantly rising? Denis Saint-Martin; 3. Pluralists and republicans, rules and standards: conflicts of interest and the California experience Karen Getman and Pamela S. Karlan; 4. A democratized conception of political ethics Colin M. Macleod; Part II.

Cross-National Case Studies: 5. Conflict of interest legislation in the United States: origins, evolution and inter-branch differences Bruce E. Cain, Alison L. Gash and Mark J. Oleszek; 6. Conflict of interest in Canada Andrew Stark; 7. Conflict of interest in British public life Gillian Peele and Robert Kaye; 8. Conflict of interest in Italy: the case of a media tycoon who became prime minister (2001'2006) Sergio Fabbrini.